Canna plant named &#39;Longwood Simply Salmon&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Canna  plant named ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ characterized by dwarf habit, gray-green foliage, and orange-salmon flowers which are open faced, long-lived, and attractively arranged within the inflorescence, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Canna×generalis.

Variety denomination: ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Canna, also known as Canna Lily or Indian Shot, which is grown as an ornamental annual or perennial, according to climate zone, for use in planted containers and in the garden and landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Canna×generalis, and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’.

A Canna breeding program has been carried out at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. since 1967. The aim of the breeding program is to develop new dwarf or semi-dwarf canna varieties in various flower colors and foliage colors, with well-formed inflorescences consisting of flowers which are self-cleaning.

‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ arose and was selected in 2009 as an open-pollinated seedling which had been grown from seed collected from open pollination of Canna 2008-0552 (code number, unreleased) which is part of the breeding stock from the historic breeding program at Longwood Gardens. The open-pollination occurred on the inventor's property in Kennett Square, Pa.

‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ was first asexually reproduced at Longwood Gardens in 2009. Asexual propagation was accomplished by division of the rhizome. Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ have been determined stable and uniform, and to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via division of the rhizome. In 2010, ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ was established in tissue culture and has been reproduced true to type by this means, in addition to reproduction by means of division.

SUMMARY

The distinguishing characteristics of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ are as follows. ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ was has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions.

-   -   1. ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is dwarf, achieving a height 55 cm         to 69 cm (including the inflorescence) in one year of growth in         a 2 gallon container.     -   2. ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ exhibits early basal branching,         giving rise to a fuller display in containers and in the         landscape.     -   3. The foliage of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is gray-green in         color.     -   4. The inflorescence of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is         salmon-orange in color.     -   5. Each flower (actually, staminode cluster) of ‘Longwood Simply         Salmon’ is long-lived, remaining attached to the inflorescence         for 7 to 10 days.     -   6. The old flowers of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ fall away from         the inflorescence without lodging within, that is, the flowers         are self-cleaning.     -   7. The inflorescence of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ becomes large         and showy, consisting of 4 to 7 open flowers before the oldest         flower falls away.     -   8. The flowers of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ are open faced and         attractively arranged within the inflorescence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ showing the color of the inflorescence and the foliage as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. All photographs were taken in August 2016.

FIG. 1 depicts a 5-month old plant of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ which has been grown in a 6 inch container in a greenhouse in Kennett Square, Pa. The plant has been grown without any chemical growth retardant. This photograph shows the early basal branching of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’. In this photograph, 7 flowers (actually staminodes) are fully developed with approximately 11 further buds in various stages of development.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following botanical description, all color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

The plant used for this botanical description was 5-months old from a tissue cultured division and had been grown in a 1-gallon container under greenhouse conditions is Kennett Square, Pa. Botanical descriptions were taken in August 2016.

-   Botanical classification:     -   -   Genus and species.—Canna×generalis. -   Parentage: From open pollination of Canna, code number Canna     2008-0552. -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation.—By division of rhizomes or division of tissue             cultured plants.         -   Cultural suggestions.—In common with Cannas generally,             ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is evergreen in warm climates, but             will die back as winter approaches in cool climates.             Rhizomes may be mulched to protect from light frost but             should be lifted and stored if the ground is liable to             freeze below the surface.         -   Hardiness.—‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is hardy and evergreen             in USDA Zone 8.         -   Heat tolerance.—Plants grow and flower rapidly in sunny             positions.         -   Pest and disease resistance or susceptibility.—‘Longwood             Simply Salmon’ has not been found to be more or less             resistant or susceptible to the pests and diseases which             affect the genus and its cultivars, of which Canna yellow             mosaic virus, Canna yellow streak virus and Canna yellow             mottle virus are endemic in many Canna plants in the             landscape.         -   Plant form.—Upright with one or more basal branch shoots.         -   Rhizome description.—Thick, fibrous, 1.4 cm to 1.5 cm in             diameter, with papery scales which are white 166C in color             when first forming, becoming moderate brown 200C as they age             and peel away from the rhizome whose revealed surface is             smooth, cream NN155C.         -   Plant height after one year in a 2-gallon container.—55 cm             to 69 cm (including inflorescence).         -   Plant spread.—44 cm to 64 cm. -   Stem (each basal shoot, to base of inflorescence):     -   -   Length.—43 cm to 56 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.3 cm.         -   Internode length.—6.1 cm to 12.3 cm.         -   Stem strength.—The stem is firm and fleshy towards base,             becoming very hard and stiff towards the inflorescence.         -   Texture.—Slightly rough with longitudinal ribs towards base,             smooth towards inflorescence.         -   Color.—139C at the base, 139D above the highest leaf. -   Foliage:     -   -   Form.—Simple and entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf length.—20 cm to 31 cm.         -   Leaf width.—6 cm to 13 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Surface texture (both surface).—Glabrous.         -   Leaf structure.—Leaf is supported by a stiff depressed             midrib and by raised parallel lateral ribs which are spaced             approximately 1 cm apart.         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Vein color (both surfaces).—140D.         -   Leaf color (both surfaces).—139A towards the apex, and N138C             towards the base.         -   Petioles.—Arrangement: Sheathing. Length: 3 cm to 9.4 cm.             Texture: Glabrous, ribbed. Color, upper surface: 141D.             Color, lower surface: 144B becoming 143C where petiole is             exposed to full sun. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Terminal raceme consisting of 10 to 19 flowers.         -   Height (fully developed).—12 cm to 20 cm.         -   Diameter (fully developed).—14 cm.         -   Bract.—Raceme is subtended by single paper-like bract.         -   Bract shape.—Cymbiform.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: 11 cm to 19 cm in length, 0.4 cm in             diameter. Strength: Hard and very stiff. Texture: Glabrous.             Color: 142B. -   Flower:     -   -   Overall description.—Flower is complex, comprised of three             short waxy sepals and three narrow petals. The showy             elements of the flower are modified petaloid stamens or             staminodes of which three outer staminodes are large and             wide, and a fourth is narrow and recurving (labellum). A             fifth (inner) staminode bears a lone marginal anther and is             adjacent to a long slender petaloid style.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continually from late spring until             fall.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—7 to 10 days.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower dimensions.—13.2 cm in height, 6.8 cm to 8.4 cm in             width.         -   Pedicels.—Dimensions: 0.4 cm in length, 0.3 cm in diameter.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 143B.         -   Buds.—Dimensions: 5.1 cm to 5.5 cm in length, 0.6 cm to 0.7             cm in width. Shape: Ellipsoid. Surface: Smooth, appears             slightly farinaceous. Color: 42A.         -   Sepals.—Number: 3, fused at base. Dimensions: 8 mm in             length, 4 mm in width. Shape: Elliptic, apex acute, base             truncate. Color: Adaxial surface 142B, abaxial surface 142B.             Surface texture: Farinaceous, waxy.         -   Petals.—Number: 3, fused at base. Dimensions: 3.3 cm to 4.5             cm in length, 1 mm in width. Shape: Elongate elliptic, apex             acute, base truncate. Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (both             surfaces): Adaxial surface 24B, abaxial surface 34A.             Surface: Glabrous.         -   Outer staminodes.—Number: 3, fused at base. Shape,             dimensions: staminodes broad obovate, apex round, base             truncate, 8.5 cm in length, 3.6 cm in width; staminode             (labellum) spatulate, recurving, 6.8 cm in length, 2.2 cm in             width. Margin: Smooth, entire, undulating. Color (both             surfaces): Adaxial surface 33B, abaxial surface 33A.             Surface: Glabrous.         -   Inner staminode (anther bearing).—Shape: Spatulate, apex             round, base truncate. Dimensions: 5.9 cm to 6.6 cm in             length, 0.7 cm to 0.8 cm in width. Margin: Smooth, entire.             Color (both surfaces): Adaxial surface 33B, abaxial surface             33B. Surface: Glabrous.         -   Inner petaloid style.—Shape: Falcate, apex truncate, base             truncate. Dimensions: 4.8 cm in length, 4 mm in width.             Margin: Smooth, entire. Color (both surfaces): Adaxial             surface 14A, abaxial surface 14A. Surface: Glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—petaloid anther-bearing staminode as above.         -   Anthers.—Not always present; where present, fused along half             anther length to concave margin of staminode.         -   Anther shape.—Rectangular.         -   Anther dimensions.—Length 5 mm, width 1 mm.         -   Color.—12D.         -   Pollen amount.—Slight, appears to transfer to style before             flower opens.         -   Pollen color.—12D.         -   Style, stigma.—1 petaloid style as above; stigma absent.         -   Ovary.—Inferior, 3-carpellate, surface rough with many tiny             pinhead-like protrusions, color 142A. -   Seed: Seed has not been observed.

COMPARISON TO PARENTAL VARIETY AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

The variety of Canna which is considered by the inventor to most closely resemble ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is Canna ‘Tropical Salmon’ (seed-raised, unpatented). Whereas ‘Tropical Salmon’ is a seed-raised variety, ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ is reproduced asexually by division or tissue culture. Although the flowers of both varieties are salmon-orange in color, the flowers of ‘Tropical Salmon’ are deeper in color whereas the flowers of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ are soft salmon in color. In addition, the leaves of ‘Tropical Salmon’ are broad and mid-green in color, whereas the leaves of ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ are longer and narrower, and gray-green in color. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Canna plant named ‘Longwood Simply Salmon’ as shown and described herein. 